LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

When she was young, whenever she saw someone showing their tokens from their families and getting treated with respect, she felt being in an impressive family must be good. But later she knew that not all of that glamour is worth it. The Ming family had it"s issues and whenever she was gambling, she would hear those "lords" from other families proudly speaking how they had gained something by sending their daughter or Concubine to someone with more power. Also there were some who would use tactics to s.n.a.t.c.h women with higher status and use them to rise in the ranks... Despicable people!

Her father does not seem to be such person and Shengli had a.s.sured so too, but there would be unnecessary people who would constantly try to disturb her. But, those things are just minor and she can handle those easily.

The major thing she cannot handle is this.. Being a young miss means walking elegantly with small steps, wearing layers of fluffy skirts, smiling elegantly all the time, cannot leave out without maids accompanying, cannot punch people who annoy you and you can"t curse and of course you cannot touch a sword.... Living the life of a young miss would be like living in her mother"s punishment forever... Eeeek! Impossible! My body or mind is not suited to be a young miss!

Also my past is not so simple right?

"Father! I"ll gladly call you father and be filial to you and you don"t have to change a thing. You don"t have to tell anyone you have a daughter and I don"t mind. I don"t need the Huang name or anything from you. I already am happy that you are my father and I will not bother you for anything more than your affection", she bowed. Please let me be free!

" That can"t be allowed! I want to tell the world I have a daughter! ", AoTian said immediately.

Why is she saying such things? She is the last present my MingLing left for me! How can I not treasure her? How pathetic am I to meet my daughter after she"d become an adult already with her own life?

" Well, I don"t agree", was what she wanted to say but seeing her father"s sad look, she spoke gently,

" Father! It"s not like I hate to be acknowledged as your daughter. But it is rather like this. I told you I am "Lord Táng" right? In the past six years, we have offended various people, powerful and malicious- both in this kingdom and in other kingdoms too. Also we have made many acquaintances too and not all of them can be revealed publicly. If those things surface about me, it would be bothersome for the Prime Minister"s Manor. But I can a.s.sure you, we had never acted against the interest of our Kingdom or committed treason of any sort. That"s why I cannot involve you or the Huang family in my affairs "

Feiye laughed hard holding his stomach, "Look at that! She really is your daughter. Remember who said the same things to our first brother years back? How does it feel to be on the receiving end of such words? Ha! Ha! At least your daughter is polite"

AoTian glared at Feiye and he shut up immediately.

"Look at me! Daughter! If that is the reason you are refusing to be acknowledged as my child , I can take care of it. And it"s not like I don"t know how to deal with these situations as I myself is involved with many people and not all of them are, well...True-hearted. I have already missed seventeen years of your life and I am not going to miss even a single more day. So you cannot refuse me! And, Aren"t you smart? Find a solution, so it would serve both our interests! ", AoTian said in a firm tone.

Xing could not refuse her father anymore and his pleading eyes and she looked at Shengli who was looking at her with a smile in his face. Geez! What"s with him?

What Xing didn"t know was everyone was wondering how the ever stubborn AoTian had opened a path for negotiations by himself.

Then it dawned on Xing, if a Prince can hide his ident.i.ty and live as an adopted son, she can hide her ident.i.ty and live as a young miss by name. Well! Shengli needs to do everything about it and her father should too. But if they really want her to stay in this city they"ll have to find a way, right? Or else... Well! I can always go back to the village or anywhere else too. It"s not like this wide world has no place for a little old me!

Also the Emperor, he won"t hurt his brother"s woman, even though I lied to him, right?

"Father! Give me a new name to join the Huang family, preferably something without star or moon in it. I will stay in the Prime Minister"s Manor as you wish", she said.

Ao Tian thought for a while and he was smart to understand what she"s planning. So I can make that happen.. But why not "moon" in her name? He remembered how pretty her hair looked in the setting sunlight.

He then looked at her, " I don"t know why you don"t want to be called star or moon, but you really have a gentle light in you. So I will call you, MingXia ( "bright glow" through the clouds at dawn), Huang MingXia. So do you like it?"

Xing bowed her head, Geez! why can"t I be called beautiful or elegant, flower or fruit why am I always someone over the sky, this is unfair. Can"t I be beautiful at least in my name? She sighed, but what"s in a name, also her father chose it, so it will be good.

" I thank father for giving me such a good name. I hope I won"t disappoint father in the future", she uttered.

"You can do whatever you want. This father of yours is powerful enough to protect you. You can never disappoint father", he said patting her head gently.

Shengli smiled in satisfaction as AoTian gave her that name. This generation Huang sons and daughters had the character "Ming" in them. Well! Now that the Huang family is involved, it means they had more allies on their side as the Huang family always looks after their own.

Then Rijun was introduced as her brother and Xing wondered as to why her father adopted his nephew as his son. I"ve heard a lot about Lord Huang Zedong but why did he send his son to his brother?

He just smiled politely and nodded at her and Xing could see he was not all happy. At least, he is not looking at her weirdly like those other men would look at her if they see her in female attire,the look that despises her, so anything else is fine.

After that, it was decided that everything will be arranged in the coming days and Xing will be staying at her Uncle"s until then. Then everyone had dinner and Xing excused herself followed by Shengli.

"You are still too young to be married!", AoTian said to Xing who was about to leave.

Xing looked at her father confused. Isn"t sixteen the legal age to marry in this kingdom?

Feiye chuckled, "Xiao Tian, what are you saying? You were only sixteen when Mingxia was born. And she is over seventeen now..", only to be met with his angry glare. Feiye realised AoTian is indirectly warning Shengli and rolled his eyes.

"Mingxia! Eighteen! That is the age to marry, remember!", AoTian told Xing and she nodded and agreed and left after saying her byes.

As she left, Shengli followed her with a slight chuckle, "Of all the men, you had to be his daughter!".

Xing noticed two maids following them closely and smiled, they are sent here here to follow, watch and report, right? Father really is silly!

Shengli just gave a glare and both of them paused their steps and then followed them at a ten pace difference.

"So, what"s the deal between you and my father?", Xing asked. They don"t seem to get along well.

"Nothing much! We disagreed on some issues. He held grudges!", Shengli replied.

"Whatever! Fix it!", Xing said with indifference, it matters not to her as she won"t give up Shengli no matter what. "Also, why did father adopt his nephew?", she asked.

She really can see blood relations.h.i.+p.

" All I heard are rumours that your father stole his nephew from his brother seventeen years back and refused to give him back and your first uncle let it pa.s.s because he really dotes on his little brother . People call Rijun, the stolen son behind his back. I think Rijun feels insecure with people talking behind his back. But rumours are rumours and no one really knows what happened seventeen years back" Shengli told.

"Mmm, so it"s like that", Xing said. Really the position brother is in, is clearly difficult. Without knowing why his uncle adopted him, or why his rich father let him go, he sure has reasons to have insecurities. Now that she is here, surely his mind would feel more turbulent. So that"s why he looked at her like that.

Well, let"s see how this turns up.

Meanwhile Feiye told AoTian to be nice to Shengli, at least in front of his daughter as she seemed to be really close with him.

AoTian just rolled his eyes and ignored him.

Someone who had refused to meet his father in deathbed even when he was begged , cannot dream of becoming his son-in-law, right?

Shengli left Xing in her room and left to his room and started to read the various reports he had received about the various movements in the city to find out anything weird was going on. He had left the capital for over a week and a lot must have happened.